Quarterfinals: Nick Vea vs. Mike Sigrist

Mike Sigrist is hot off of a victory just last weekend at GP DC, but his Mono-Blue Devotion deck would face stiff competition in this quarterfinal from Nick Vea’s G/W Aggro.

GAME 1

Nick fired off with an Elvish Mystic, while Mike had Judge’s Familiar on turn 1. Nicholas missed his second land drop, but was able to cast Fleecemane Lion off of his Elvish Mystic. His mana was stunted next turn, however, when Mike had Tidebinder Mage to lock down the Elf. Nicholas found a second land on his next turn, but it was his 1-of Rogue’s Passage, and he passed the turn without a play.

Thassa, God of the Sea arrived next for Mike, and when Nicholas again had no play, he was able to attack with it before adding a Cloudfin Raptor and a Frostburn Weird to the board. Nicholas drew a Temple Garden and shocked himself to put it into play untapped, casting Selesnya Charm to exile the Thassa. The damage was done, however, as Nicholas sat at just 7 life against an army of creatures, with only a Fleecemane lion on defense.

Mike drew and showed him Cyclonic Rift to clear a path, and it was on to game 2.

Smelling a trick, Mike attacked with just his Cloudfin Raptor, then played a second Raptor and passed. Nick had Selesyna Charm on Mike’s end step, then untapped and exiled the Tidebinder Mage with a Banisher Priest. Mike had a big play on his fourth turn, casting Master of Waves to evolve both of his Raptors to 2/3 and making a pile of Elemental Tokens. He attacked Nick down to 14 and passed.

Nick wasted no time using Last Breath to get rid of the Master of Waves and his Elemental friends, and crashed in with his creatures to drop Mike back down to 12. Mike had Frostburn Weird on his next turn, growing both Cloudfin Raptors to 3/4, and attacked in the air to drop Nick down to 8. Nick had no profitable attacks, and passed the turn again. The Cloudfins attacked again and Nightveil Specter joined Mike’s air force. Nick flashed in Advent of the Wurm at Mike’s end step, but he would still need some help on his next turn to race Mike’s fliers.

He drew his card and, finding nothing to get him out of his predicament, extended the hand in defeat.